2023-10-27 12:44:46
Montpellier’s training week was marked by an altercation – the origins and intensity of which differ depending on the source – between Michel Der Zakarian and defender Mamadou Sakho. Present this Friday at a press conference, the MHSC technician delivered his version of the facts.
It’s the soap opera of the week in Montpellier. While the Hérault club hopes to relaunch in the championship following the 2-0 defeat on the Nantes lawn last weekend (9th day of Ligue 1), the altercation between Michel Der Zakarian and Mamadou Sakho was at the center of all attentions. Present at a press conference this Friday two days before the Toulouse reception (Sunday at 3 p.m., 10th day of Ligue 1), the MHSC coach delivered his version of the facts.
“Nothing happened in the locker room,” assured Der Zakarian to journalists. “It’s a little skirmish, that’s all. Afterwards we add a lot. We bring out things that don’t exist. ( …) I feel good. Yes, I feel good. It’s better today, but I won’t talk regarding that.”
“If you want information, you call Jérôme Rothen”
“On the other hand, if you want information, you call Jérôme Rothen (consultant for RMC Sport, who told the story behind the scenes of this altercation in the show Rothen s’enflamme, editor’s note)”, continued the Hérault coach, also citing the name from a journalist from L’Equipe. “They will tell you things.”
Since mid-week, the origin and intensity of this famous altercation have varied depending on the sources. As explained by RMC Sport on Thursday, it all started with opposition during training on Tuesday morning. During this opposition, the coach does not whistle certain fouls. Several players then show signs of annoyance. Mamadou Sakho is one of them. The defender does not want to make waves. Frustrated, he decides to return to the locker room five minutes before the end of the session. The training ends. Der Zakarian, who started training annoyed because of the setback on the Nantes pitch 48 hours earlier, did not relax.
At first the two men exchange without raising their voices. Then the coach gets annoyed by saying, in essence: “It’s always the same thing, in matches it’s the same!” To which the 33-year-old responds that he is impeccable despite the fact that he has not played since the start of the season (he only came on for a few minutes once morest Lorient at the start of October) and that he should make his remarks to the players concerned. Michel Der Zakarian then says “I’m not afraid of you” to his defender and goes towards him for a forehead to forehead. He then pushes the player in the chest.
According to several witnesses, and contrary to what was first reported, it was the coach who came into contact with Sakho. The two men then grab each other by the collar. This is where Der Zakarian’s chain breaks. Several players intervene. In the general confusion and while Sakho lets go of his coach’s collar, he falls, moving backwards. But witnesses report that no blow was delivered by the player to the coach.
On Wednesday, Sakho took charge of training, but the defender eventually returned home. The team reports that the former French international is on temporary layoff by Montpellier and summoned to an interview prior to dismissal in the coming days. To date, however, there is nothing to certify that there was indeed a layoff, although the player did not participate in the training session this Thursday.
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